We take our weekly look at appointments and promotions across the housebuilding industry and its supply chain.
Sam Payne, Anwyl Homes
Sam Payne has taken on the role of senior land manager for Anwyl Homes Lancashire, based at the company’s regional offices at Buckshaw Village.
Winner of the 2023 Insider North West Young Property Professional of the Year Award, Payne has previously worked for housebuilders and a land promotor. His experience includes securing both strategic and immediate residential land opportunities across the North West of England and North Wales.
Of his new role he said: “Anwyl is a family-run company with an impeccable track record over its 95-year history and ambitious growth aspirations. Joining Anwyl has given me the opportunity to develop my career and balance family life, as I only live five miles from the Lancashire office. I’m looking forward to delivering new and exciting projects.”
Managing director of Anwyl Homes Lancashire, John Grime, said: “Sam is a welcome addition to our land team.”
Jamie Snell, Acorn Property Group
Acorn Property Group has announced the appointment of Jamie Snell as senior land manager for its Exeter regional office.
He brings to the role some 16 years of extensive experience in the property industry, having worked across asset management, estate agency, new homes, and land acquisition. He joins from Allison Homes and will be responsible for expanding the region’s land pipeline in Devon, Somerset and Dorset to support Acorn’s growth plans across the South West.
Snell commented: “I am thrilled to be joining Acorn at such an exciting time. The company’s design-led and community-focused approach to development really resonates with me, and I look forward to working with landowners and agents to bring forward high-quality sites that contribute to Acorn’s continued success in the region.”
Ed Lewis, regional director for Acorn Exeter, added: “We are delighted to welcome Jamie to our team. His wealth of experience and local market knowledge will be instrumental in driving our land acquisition strategy forward.”
Three appointments, William Davis Homes
William Davis Homes has welcomed a trio of key appointments to its East Midlands land team to support its plans for growth.
Reece Richiardi (pictured centre) has joined as senior land manager, working on the acquisition of open-market sites with existing planning consent; Harry White (pictured left) is senior strategic land manager, tasked with leading the housebuilder’s longer-term land acquisitions; and Mike Barnett (pictured right) is the company’s new head of design, working on an ambitious project to design a new range of house types, the first of which are set to be built on developments later this year.
They all bring significant experience from roles within regional and national housebuilders.
William Davis Homes group land director Sarah Whetton commented on the appointments: “As we look ahead to our growth plans over the next five years, we need the right people to make that happen, and Reece, Harry and Mike have already made a huge impact on the business.”
Will Bishop, LEICHT Contracts
LEICHT Contracts, a provider of German engineered kitchen furniture to the new build and regeneration construction market, has appointed Will Bishop as sales director.
Bishop’s extensive knowledge of the built environment and contract kitchens market follows 16 years in the industry. His previous position was sales director at structural building components specialists, ACS Stainless Steel Fixings. He also held the same position at Neo Group in addition to several roles in senior business development and contract kitchen sales at Symphony, Whiteleaf Furniture, and Howdens.
He has managed multi-million-pound contracts for leading developers such as Ballymore, Henry Construction, Berkeley St George, Barratt and Taylor Wimpey.
Bishop remarked: “I am thrilled to accept the sales director role at LEICHT Contracts, and contribute to the supply of stylish, sustainable, and supportive German-made architectural kitchen living spaces throughout the UK.”
Sarah Edwards, MD at LEICHT Contracts, said: “We are thrilled to have Will join the team, and strengthen our comprehensive five-year restructuring plan.”
Two appointments, Acuity
Research agency, Acuity has announced the appointment of two new client managers, continuing the consultancy’s expansion across the housing sector.
Amanda O’Leary (pictured left) joins as client and communications manager, bringing with her 12 years of expertise as customer insights manager at Hertfordshire-based housing provider B3Living, and further marketing experience working for brands such as Walt Disney, Mattel, and Sega.
Also joining the team is Amber Evans (pictured right) as its new client manager. She has more than 10 years’ experience in finance and the housing sector at NewDay Ltd and Places for People.
Denise Raine, director at Acuity, commented: “Amanda and Amber’s experience will go further in strengthening our client management services at a time when the demand for our specialist knowledge and support continues to grow.
“Our investment in the team reflects our strength in the sector and the need for more in-depth insight for housing providers to deliver best-practice customer satisfaction to residents.”
John Baggley, Robertson Partnership Homes
Robertson Partnership Homes has appointed John Baggley as its new managing director, arriving with extensive experience in construction and affordable housing.
He joins the companyfrom CCG (Scotland) Ltd, where he was a board member with responsibility for overall contract operations. He started his career as an apprentice joiner, before joining CCG in 2008 as a general foreman.
Speaking of his appointment, Baggley said: “Robertson Partnership Homes is the partner of choice for a number of long-term customers, and I am looking forward to leading the team to further strengthen those relationships, and work with new customers.
“Having started my career as an apprentice joiner, one of the things that really stands out to me is the commitment of Robertson to young people. It is important to me that career pathways and opportunities for progression are available, and if we can encourage young people to a career in housebuilding, we will play our part in securing the future of our sector.”
Two appointments, SevenCapital
SevenCapital has appointed James Moody, previously managing director (Europe) at MARK, as its new chief operating officer, and Rebecca Thomson, previously sales & marketing director at Camrose London, as its group sales director.
Moody joins the main board of directors with his substantial development and sales expertise in the Prime Central London residential market. Prior to his role at MARK (formerly Meyer Bergman), he has held MD roles at developers including Redrow and Crest Nicholson.
Thomson joins SevenCapital having had senior sales roles with developers including Crest Nicholson, CALA Homes and Fairview.
She said: “I am pleased to be working alongside James Moody, Damien Siviter and the senior team at SevenCapital.”
Damien Siviter, group managing director of SevenCapital, said of the appointments: “Their substantial development and sales expertise in the London market will help to drive our expansion plans in the capital.”
Two appointments, Gateley Legal
Gateley Legal has bolstered its specialist residential development team in Birmingham with the appointments of partner Natalie Edwards and legal director Laura Murphy, both joining from Eversheds Sutherland.
Edwards was there for 25 years, the last two of which she was national head of residential development and co-head of its living sector group. Her wide range of expertise spans immediate and strategic land development, sustainable urban extensions, large-scale consortium agreements and single-family Build to Rent schemes.
Murphy brings almost 20 years of experience to the team, with previous roles at Eversheds Sutherland and Shakespeare Martineau.
Callum Nuttall, partner and national head of the residential development team at Gateley Legal, said: “It’s brilliant to have Natalie and Laura on board with us in Birmingham. They bring impressive track records and will play valuable roles in servicing both new and long-term existing client relationships.”
Elisabetta Li Destri Nicosia, Amro
Elisabetta Li Destri Nicosia has been promoted by Amro to the position of managing director for ESG & sustainability.
She joined the company in 2022 as director for sustainability & ESG and in her new role will lead on delivering our ambitious climate agenda across the UK and Europe.
Ami Kotecha, co-founder and president of Amro Partners, commented: “This promotion is incredibly well-deserved. Over the past three years Elisabetta has played a significant role in developing our ESG strategy and the in-house tech platform we need to deliver it, truly setting us apart from our competitors.”
Elisabetta Li Destri Nicosia said: “It’s an honour to lead our exceptionally talented team in delivering the market-leading sustainable assets we are fast becoming renowned for. Amro is fortunate to work with some of the most forward-thinking investment partners and I look forward to collaborating with their technical teams to ensure every project meets our shared ESG goals, creating lasting value and impact.”
